Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Wilmington, N.C. - The internationally renowned Los Angeles Guitar Quartet joins forces with Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Luciana Souza at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14 in Kenan Auditorium on the campus of University of North Carolina Wilmington. Together, Souza and the LAGQ present a luminous evening of works by Manuel de Falla, Osvaldo Golijov, Heitor Villa-Lobos, things Brazilian, and a few surprises. The concert marks the launch of the 2006-07 UNCW Arts in Action Performance Series.

Recognized as one of America's premier instrumental ensembles, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet is one of the most charismatic and versatile groups performing today. Popularly known as the LAGQ, these four virtuosi bring a new energy to the concert stage with their eclectic programs and dynamic musical interplay. Their inventive, critically-acclaimed transcriptions of concert masterworks provide a fresh look at the music of the past, while their interpretations of works from the contemporary and world-music realms continually break new ground. Formed as a student ensemble in 1980 at UCLA, the LAGQ includes John Dearman, Scott Tennant, Andrew York and William Kanengiser.

The LAGQ has eleven albums to its credit, including L.A.G.Q. which spent six months in the top 15 of Billboard's Classical-Crossover chart. Its latest recording, Spin, features new tunes written for and by LAGQ, including two pieces in collaboration with Scottish percussion virtuoso Colin Currie.

Born into a family of Bossa Nova innovators in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Souza's voice transcends traditional boundaries, offering solid roots in jazz, classical and world music. Her fluid vocals and elegant stage presence have earned critical and popular acclaim, including three Grammy nominations, and her considerable talents for composing and arranging have made her a leading figure in both jazz and world music. She has performed and recorded with Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, Osvaldo Golijov, Kenny Werner, and Maria Schneider as well as the Boston Symphony, the Bach Akademie Stuttgart, Atlanta Symphony, and the Los Angeles, Brooklyn and New York Philharmonic orchestras. Souza - who holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Composition from the Berklee College of Music in Boston and a Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music - was named Top Rising Star in the Female Vocalist Category by the Down Beat magazine Critic's Poll. Her discography includes An Answer to Your Silence (NYC), The Poems of Elizabeth Bishop and Other Songs, Brazilian Duos, North and South, Neruda and Duos II (Sunnyside).

Luciana Souza and members of the LAGQ will conduct a lecture/demonstration on Saturday, Oct. 14 from 3-4 p.m. at DREAMS of Wilmington, 515 Ann Street. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. RSVP to artsinaction@uncw.edu or call UNCW Presents at 910.962.7971.

BOX OFFICE AND TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are $6 for university and area students, $14 for UNCW faculty/staff and senior citizens, and $18 for all others. Arts in Action season subscriptions may be purchased at a savings of up to 15% off ticket prices. For tickets, call Kenan Box Office at 910.962.3500 or 800.732.3643 outside the Wilmington area or visit www.uncw.edu/presents. Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

ABOUT UNCW PRESENTS
UNCW Presents annually brings to the southeastern NC region a full season of performing arts, visual arts and lectures by world-famous artists and speakers as well as astounding newcomers through its three dynamic programs: Leadership Lecture Series, Arts in Action Performance Series and the University Union Exhibit Series. The Arts in Action Performance Series seeks to culturally enrich, educate and entertain both students and the general public through the presentation of diverse programs featuring professional, high-quality performing artists. For more information, please visit the UNCW Presents web site at www.uncw.edu/presents

UNCW Presents is a member of the NC Presenters Consortium and the US National Association of Performing Arts Presenters. The 150 member venues of the NC Presenters Consortium may be visited at www.ncpresenters.org.

Attention: Editors for Arts, Entertainment, Features, Travel & Tourism, Event Calendars

Color photography of artists may be downloaded at www.uncw.edu/stuaff/activities/UNCWPresents/about-presskit.htm

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Media Contact: Shannon Hooker, 910.962.7600, hookers@uncw.edu